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Agency — From the Oxford English Dictionary, online edition: -- “agency, n.”. OED Online. September 2014. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/3851?redirectedFrom=agency& (accessed September 27, 2014). -- agency, n. Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nsi/ , U.S. /ˈeɪdʒənsi/ Forms: 16 agencie, 16– agency. Etymology: < post-classical Latin agentia action, activity (from 11th or 12th cent. in British sources; already in 8th cent. denoting a farm) < classical Latin agent- , agens , present participle of agere to do, act (see act v.) + -ia -y suffix3. The semantic development of the English word has been considerably shaped by association with agent n.1 Compare also French agence trade office (1653, earliest denoting such an office in a foreign country), position or function of an agent (1697), Italian agenzia (1678 or earlier, originally in sense ‘position or function of an agent’). I. A person or organization acting on behalf of another, or providing a particular service. 1. a. The process of acting as an agent (agent n.1 2); the position, role, or function of an agent, deputy, or representative; an instance of this. Now somewhat rare. In earliest use: ambassadorship, embassy. b. A business, body, or organization providing a particular service, or negotiating transactions on behalf of a person or group. Cf. agent n.1 2b. Often with modifying word specifying the service provided, as advertising, detective, employment, escort, letting, tourist agency, etc.: see the first element. Also (with capital initials) in the names of such businesses or organizations. 2. U.S. The position or office of an Indian agent; (concr.) the headquarters of such an agent; = Indian agency n. at Indian adj.and n. Special uses 2a. Cf. agent n.1 2c. Now hist. 3. U.S. colloq. With the. Usu. with capital initial. The Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA. Cf. company n. 5e, bureau n. 2d. II. Action, capacity to act. 4. Ability or capacity to act or exert power; active working or operation; action, activity. In quot. 1606 as a count noun: an action, a force. 5. a. Action or intervention producing a particular effect; means, instrumentality, mediation. b. Such action embodied or personified; a being or thing that acts to produce a particular effect or result. Cf. agent n.1 3. 6. Grammar. The fact or quality of being a grammatical agent (agent n.1 1c). -- “agency, n.”. OED Online. September 2014. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/3851?redirectedFrom=agency& (accessed September 27, 2014). ----------------------------------------------------------------- PhD-Design mailing list <[log in to unmask]> Discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design Subscribe or Unsubscribe at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/phd-design -----------------------------------------------------------------